"Total, 56,723 credits."
Phainon put down the calculator and pushed it towards Cipher.
Then, he smoothly demonstrated in front of Cipher, "Zero, add, zero again…"
Cipher's fingers frantically swiped through the air, trying to overcome the cruel reality with mental arithmetic, before finally snatching the calculator, laughing in exasperation.
"Savior Kid, have you forgotten who I am? Are you trying to scheme against the ancestor of thieves?"
Phainon's smile was impeccable, "How could I dare."
"Since Miss Cipher didn't bring enough money, I can lend you some first. The interest isn't high."
"N-never mind!" The firefly beside them couldn't bear to watch any longer and quickly took out her stored-value card. "I still have twenty thousand here. Just let me contribute."
"No need!"
Phainon's voice was decisive, his gaze burning, "The great Miss Cipher has money!"
"Meow! Again!"
Cipher shrieked, her cat ears standing straight up. "Savior Kid, you've really grown audacious! It seems I'll have to properly educate you on behalf of the tailor girl!"
"Enough." A low voice interrupted the farce.
Mydei stood up and walked towards the bar with an expressionless face.
Phainon's gaze followed his retreating figure, his eyebrows subtly raising.
"Where did Mydeimos get the money?"
Cipher turned her head, her tail flicking in annoyance, "Hmph, I won't tell you."
"Oh, I'm satisfied, so satisfied!"
Stelle patted her belly contentedly, a blissful expression on her face, her mind focused solely on eating, completely oblivious to the previous argument.
"I didn't expect to eat so well in a dream. This is such a steal!"
Taking advantage of this lull, the firefly quickly suggested, "Since everyone has eaten well, why don't we show a few of you around the Golden Hour?"
"Sure." Phainon agreed.
Mydei returned after settling the bill, and everyone left the restaurant.
Stelle and the firefly walked excitedly ahead, discussing their next destination.
Phainon and the other two followed unhurriedly behind.
Cipher's cat tail swayed unconsciously behind her. She lowered her voice, "So, what are we doing next? We're not really here for tourism, are we?"
"Waiting for an old acquaintance." Phainon's gaze swept over Cipher. "Aren't you curious about this world of debauchery?"
Cipher sighed softly, "Savior Kid, you wouldn't think you just closed your eyes and opened them to arrive here, would you?"
"We saw you fall from the sky, unconscious. You were lying there for half a door-hour before you woke up!"
Phainon's footsteps paused, his gaze turning to Mydei, "That long?"
"Mm."
Mydei was concise. "That's when I found something to do and earned some extra money."
"Working part-time?"
Phainon's mouth twitched uncontrollably.
"You? Working part-time? Doing what?"
"Restaurant kitchen."
Phainon fell silent.
So, that's where the money for the meal just now came from.
But the next moment, he changed the subject, "Do you feel like there are eyes on us?"
Cipher stretched, her feline instincts having long detected the Snoop.
"They've been following for a while, like an annoying fly, but their target isn't us."
Mydei's gaze slowly swept through the crowd. "Their footsteps are very light, professionally trained. Height around 1.8 meters."
"And also dark blue hair, an inverted V-shaped eyebrow, and green eyes." Phainon added softly, adding the final touch of color to this invisible portrait.
Cipher glanced at him in surprise, and the next instant, her figure blurred into an afterimage.
She flashed through the crowd, then silently returned to her original spot, as if she had never left.
"Not bad, Savior Kid, you really guessed right."
Phainon raised an eyebrow. "Then let's go meet him. He has the clues we need."
And then.
Phainon and the other two quietly disappeared from behind Stelle and the firefly.
The firefly, walking ahead, suddenly stopped and subconsciously looked back.
Behind her, it was empty.
Stelle noticed her unusual behavior and asked with concern, "What's wrong, Firefly?"
The firefly's eyes held a hint of confusion.
"Nothing, just curious… Where did your companions go?"
Stelle shrugged, a look of accustomed helplessness on her face.
"It's fine, I'm used to it. They won't get lost."
—
On the other side.
At a roadside bar.
A familiar figure was swirling a cocktail in his hand, the ice clinking against the glass with a crisp sound.
"Three, would you like a drink?"
Sampo's voice was as slick as ever.
Phainon sat in the seat next to him, "Long time no see, Uncle Old Cold Legs."
"Oh, isn't this my big client?" Sampo immediately leaned over, lowering his voice and winking. "Buddy, keep it down. Old Cold Legs is my other identity. If others find out, wouldn't it be ruined?"
Phainon ignored his performance, merely extended a finger, and lightly tapped the golden mask hanging from his waist.
"We are all people wearing masks. Some tricks are unnecessary, aren't they?"
Phainon's voice was very soft, yet it cut through all disguises.
"Beautiful, lovely, and sweet-voiced… Lord Sparkle."
Sampo's action of raising his glass froze.
Then came a burst of laughter.
"Hahahaha… Hahahaha…"
A phantom golden fish floated leisurely past Sampo, light and shadow shifting.
The next moment, the flamboyant man disappeared.
In his place was a charming young girl with twin pigtails and a smile that was both innocent and mischievous—
Sparkle.
"Ta-da! You really know how to talk!"
Her voice was cloyingly sweet,
"It seems the innocent me has been tricked by that bad guy Sampo again. He actually said you were a madman who would go crazy from time to time, which is truly insulting!"
Sparkle tilted her head, meticulously scrutinizing Phainon. "Look at you now, you're clearly very good-looking."
Her smile grew even brighter. "It's just… you're not only about to shatter, but you also might be forgotten by the world at any moment!"
"Hehehe…" Phainon let out a soft chuckle, his laughter devoid of warmth, containing only pure, cold pleasure.
"Miss Sparkle, you truly are 'Joyful'."
"Since we are all Fools, I'm not interested in your purpose. I also hope you won't interfere with mine."
"Our meeting in advance is just to avoid some… unnecessary conflicts."
Sparkle nodded, like an obedient child, "Okay, who said I, Lord Sparkle, am so easy to talk to?"
Her gaze passed Phainon and landed on Mydei and Cipher behind him. She saw through them but didn't say it, asking, "This place must be very fun, right?"
Mydei and Cipher, one with a serene face, the other with a radiant smile, both responded simultaneously.
"Mm."
Sparkle withdrew her gaze contentedly and looked back at Phainon.
"Speak, what is it?"
"First." Phainon held up one finger. "The whereabouts of Black Swan. Don't tell me you don't know. The director knows the entire script."
"Second." He held up a second finger. "I really liked your final 'surprise.' However, when you send the bomb button, I hope you can use my face."
Sparkle's eyes lit up.
"Regarding the first point, unfortunately, you're too late. I've already met that lady."
"As for the second point… You even know my plan so clearly? Not bad!"
She clapped her hands, laughing uproariously.
"Then I'll fulfill your wish! After all, for such an interesting toy like you to disappear so silently…"
"It would be too much of a pity."
Having received the desired answer, Phainon should have left.
But he didn't.
He just quietly watched Sparkle, the deep blue of his eyes, the underlying 'madness' colliding silently with the 'joy' of the spark.
After all, the opportunity to openly "deal with" Lord Sparkle isn't always available.
"Hehehe…"
Phainon and Cipher exchanged glances, a plan already formed.